Bag-clasp.



No. 821,818. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. W. H. SLATTERY.

BAG CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15.1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SLATTERY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO DEITSCH BROTHERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A FIRM.

BAG-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed July 15 1905. Serial No. 269,900.

0 all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SLATTERY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clasps adapted for traveling or other bags wherein the usual pivoted jaws are used; and its object is to pro vide a simple, strong, and eflicient clasp which when released will swing upwardly by a spring action, thus making it handy to 0pcrate.

My invention is also important in that the spring is inclosed and the whole catch is symmetrical.

A detailed description of an embodiment of my invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one corner of a bag with my improved catch. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the ba open and the catch raised. Fig. 3 is a side e evation of my improved catch, the bag being closed. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the catch raised. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the catch, the parts being in the same position as in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the manufacture of pocket books, purses, traveling-bags, and the like it is customary to provide two pivoted members, such as 1 and 2, which are pivoted at 3*, and it is to such articles that my improved catch is adapted to be applied, whether there be a pivotal connection in connection with the two members 1 and 2 or not, my clasp serving to keep the members together.

As a basis for the formation of my clasp I providea plate 3, which is secured to the overlapping or outside member 2, preferably by means of integral bolts 4 and 5, to which are applied nuts 6 and 7 on the inside of the bag-frame, where they are out of view. This base-plate consists of a top plate 8, having a depending end 9, which rests on a fiat plate 10, depending sides 11, which are shorter than the length of the top plate for reasons which will appear hereinafter, and a crosspiece 12 near the opposite end. This provides a casing with an interior space 13 and a projecting end 14. To this base is secured a catch 15, which is adapted to straddle the bag-frame members 1 and 2, so as to secure them together, and is held in place by means of a cross-pin 16, which passes under the plate 8 and is adapted to move longitudinally of the plate for a given distance which is defined by the side 11 and the cross-piece 12. The catch 15 is adapted to swing vertically on this pin 16 and consists of suitable cross members 17 and 18 with depending side pieces 19, which straddle the bag-frame, and the latter may be of any fanciful shape.

A spring is provided to cause the catch to swing upwardly when released, and herein it consists of a spiral spring 20, which surrounds the pin 16 and is recessed in the space 21 (see Fig. 7) of the catch, so as to be flush with the under side of the catch to allow the latter free movement when traveling longitudinally. The ends of the spring lie against the catch, while an outwardly-extending central loop 22 presses against the bottom 10, so that the opposition of the spring forces the catch upwardly. A recess 23 (see Figs. 2 and 6) may be provided in the cross-bar 18 to allow-the outside of the parts to remain flush. The plate 10 serves as a surface for the traveling of the catch.

The operation of my catch is simple and effective. When the bag is closed, as in Fig. 3, it is only necessary to slide the catch 15 on its pin to the left, when the cross-piece 18 will be released from under the end 14, when the catch will be caused to fly upwardly by the spring and remain out of engagement with the bag-frame. To close the bag, the operation is reversed.

The catch thus constructed is very strong, simple, and efficient and gives no annoyance while closing the bag.

Various changes in parts and form may be made; but I desire my invention to be understood as broad as the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A bag-clasp comprising a casing secured to one portion of the bag-frame, a catch mounted on said casing to swing vertically and to slide longitudinally relatively thereto, and a projecting portion on said casing to hold said catch in its closed position.

' sition.

3. A catch adapted to hold the hinged frame members of a bag together, comprising a vertically-swinging hinged member having depending sides for engagement with the bagframe, a base secured to the bag-frame and to which the swinging member is attached so as to move longitudinally therein, the said base being adapted to engage the swinging member when thelatter is lowered and moved longitudinally.

4. A catch adapted to hold the hinged frame members of a bag together, comprising a vertically-swinging hinged member having depending sides for engagement with the bagframe, a spring adapted to force the said hinged member upwardly, a base adapted to be secured to the bag-frame and to which the swinging member is attached so as to move longitudinally therein, the said base being adapted to engage the swinging member when the latter is lowered and moved longitudinally.

5. A catch adapted to hold the hinged frame members of a bag together, comprising a vertically-swinging hinged member having depending sides for engagement with the bagframe, a base-plate, a hinge-pin on the swinging member secured under the said base-plate and adapted to move longitudinally, a spring surrounding said pin, adapted to swing the hinged member upwardly, means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the swinging member, and means whereby the said base will engage the swinging member when in its thus formed, the said swinging member 15 i being secured to the base by a pin 16 which is adapted to move therein, and a spring surrounding the pin 16 and adapted to move the member 15 upwardly, the said member 15 being adapted to engage under the end 14.

7. A catch adapted to hold the hinged frame members, of a bag together, c0mpris-- ing a vertically-swinging hinged member, having depending sides to engage the-bagframe, a spring adapted to force the swinging member into a vertical position, and means for holding the swinging member down against the action of the spring for securing the bag-frame in a closed position.

Signed this 27th day of June, 1905.

WILLIAM H. SLATTERY.

Witnesses:

AUG. GoERTz, JAMES MURRAY. 

